Manager, Process Engineering

The Lumber Manufactory (TLM) is building the future of sustainable lumber with next-generation sawmill technology. We design and operate state‑of‑the‑art modular sawmills that produce high‑grade dimensional wood products with greater efficiency and less waste. Backed by leading investors including Cantos, Slow Ventures, Susa Ventures, Banter Capital, Humba Ventures, and Ravelin Capital. The Lumber Manufactory is seeking a Process Engineering Manager to lead the design, optimization, and continuous improvement of mill operations across our sawmill, planer mill, and engineered wood facilities. In this role, you’ll own material flow from log intake through finished goods, define equipment strategies that maximize recovery and throughput, and manage a team of process engineers embedded across mill departments. You’ll work cross‑functionally with production, maintenance, and capital projects to execute modernization initiatives that compound TLM’s competitive advantage in sustainability and efficiency. This is a role with at least 50% travel. Travel includes Mississippi initially, with greater U.S. extended onsite support as developed. In This Role, You Will Design and optimize material flow from log intake through primary breakdown, secondary processing, drying, surfacing, and finished goods staging, minimizing handling, rehandling, and queue buildup between operations. Develop and maintain mill layouts for sawmills, planer mills, panel plants, or engineered wood facilities, incorporating equipment footprints, log/cant/lumber flow paths, green chain and dry chain configurations, and trim/sort systems. Determine primary and secondary breakdown equipment requirements including headrigs, frame saws, gang saws, and define optimal sequencing to maximize recovery and throughput. Evaluate and specify automation and optimization systems such as scanning and optimization technology (log, cant, and lumber optimizers), PLC‑controlled sort systems, and automated stacking and strapping lines. Lead line balancing and bottleneck analysis across the mill, from the log deck and debarker through the green chain, kiln scheduling, dry mill, and shipping, ensuring equipment utilization is matched to production targets. Conduct and oversee time studies and production flow analyses to establish standard work, crew sizing, and shift capacity targets across mill departments. Partner with maintenance, production, and dry kiln teams to plan and execute major equipment installations, mill reconfigurations, and capacity expansion projects with minimal downtime. Apply lean principles to wood products manufacturing environments, identifying waste in lumber handling, sort and stacking operations, trim optimization, and grade flow. Lead capital project development for mill modernization initiatives, including scanning upgrades, automated grading systems, and materials handling improvements; manage vendor selection, installation, and commissioning. Own and maintain mill flow diagrams, equipment layout drawings, and standard operating procedures; update documentation as equipment, products, or processes change. Manage and develop a team of process and industrial engineers embedded across mill departments; align priorities with production management and senior leadership. Adapt to changing priorities and support team and operational needs as they evolve. Who You Are A technically deep engineer who thrives on solving complex material flow and equipment sequencing problems in high‑volume manufacturing environments. Someone who prefers collaborative, cross‑functional problem‑solving and enjoys partnering with operations, maintenance, and capital projects teams to execute ambitious mill improvements. Hands‑on and detail‑oriented, comfortable spending time on the mill floor conducting studies, validating layouts, and commissioning new equipment rather than delegating without visibility. Comfortable with ambiguity in early‑stage projects and capable of working within the constraints of existing mill infrastructure while envisioning and planning future state configurations. A leader who develops and mentors process engineers, sets clear expectations, and holds teams accountable to rigorous engineering standards and project timelines. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Process Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent technical discipline. 8+ years of process or industrial engineering experience in wood products manufacturing (sawmill, planer mill, OSB, LVL, plywood, MDF, or similar environments). Working knowledge of primary and secondary wood breakdown processes, including log merchandising, sawing patterns, kerf and recovery optimization, surfacing, and grading. Hands‑on experience with mill layout design and material flow planning, including green end and dry end configurations, lumber handling systems, and sort/stacker integration; proficiency in layout tools such as AutoCAD. Familiarity with scanning and optimization systems and how optimizer settings translate to recovery and grade yield outcomes. Experience evaluating and implementing automation in mill environments, including PLC‑controlled sort lines, automated stackers, kiln tracking systems, and MES/production reporting platforms. Proficiency in time study methods, OEE analysis, and capacity modeling applied to high‑volume, continuous‑flow wood processing. Knowledge of kiln drying operations and how drying schedules, kiln capacity, and green inventory management interact with mill flow. Understanding of lumber grading rules and how product mix and grade targets influence equipment sequencing and line design. Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively across mill operations, construction and installation teams, maintenance, forestry/procurement, and sales teams. The expected salary range for this position is from 170,000 – 220,000. Our compensation and benefits package includes comprehensive health coverage, life insurance, and flexible, unlimited time off. The applicable annual base salary paid to a successful applicant will be determined based on multiple factors, including but not limited to the nature and extent of prior experience and educational background. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including: 100% employer‑paid health coverage for employees and dependents (medical, dental, and vision) 100% employer‑paid life insurance and disability coverage Paid time off and company holidays The opportunity to help build something from the ground up in an essential, evolving industry Join our team as we modernize timber from forest to finished product. The Lumber Manufactory is an equal opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive team. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr